As soon as Horace walked out of the dungeon, he felt like all of his energy was drained out of him. He made a sound that he refused to admit was a whimper and leaned against the wall. Would this day ever end? It just seemed to go on and on. One terrible thing after another happened. Just when he started to think that it couldn't get any worse, it somehow got worse.
Varian ignored him. Varian kidnapped the queen. Rapunzel attacked Varian. Horace had to reveal to his girlfriend and her parents in the worst possible way that he wasn't who they thought he was. Varian was locked in the dungeon and seemed to hate him. And now it seemed that Varian was being influenced by the horrifying demon that Horace had been warned about almost as much as he'd been taught to protect the moonstone.
Horace wished that this was all just an extremely vivid nightmare. A vision that the moon was sending as a warning, and when he woke up he'd have the chance to prevent this kind of thing from happening.
He couldn't deny it though. This seemed to be his life now, a culmination of all the mistakes he'd made in his life hitting him in his face at once.
Horace closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around himself. He was so used to being on his own, but he very rarely felt lonely. Back in the Dark Kingdom there hadn't been many people around, but Horace had known that he could trust every single one of them. When he left home and started exploring the world outside his kingdom he'd been surrounded by strangers, but they were strangers that he had looked forward to getting to know.
Almost as soon as he'd arrived in Corona he'd found Rapunzel, and he'd started to see the kingdom as a second home to him. How he had to push Rapunzel and the people of Corona away, all for the sake of a boy who had practically rejected him and probably never wanted to see him again.
Horace didn't regret it. He may love Rapunzel, and that would never change, but Varian was his brother. They were family, and family had to come first, even if Horace had lost sight of that for a bit. He would make this same decision again and again, without remorse, but that didn't make it hurt any less.
The Brotherhood was far away. Varian hated him. Nelovko was gone, and Horace had nobody to blame for himself. He'd made his bed, and he couldn't avoid lying in it any longer.
"Eugene?" Rapunzel said quietly, almost timidly. Horace tiredly opened his eyes to see Rapunzel looking at him in compassion and concern that he didn't deserve. "Are you okay?"
Horace felt far from okay, but this was what he deserved. He didn't feel like he should have Rapunzel's comfort. Not after everything he'd done.
"I'm fine." Horace said. Rapunzel gave him a sad smile and stepped closer. She saw right through him. She didn't call him out about it though.
"What about Varian? How's he doing?" Rapunzel asked.
Horace shook his head. "He's not doing good."
Rapunzel twisted her hair in her hands. "Wh-what about his hand?"
Horace scowled and stiffened. "His wrist is broken, and somehow he hasn't seen a doctor yet."
Rapunzel looked shocked. "He hasn't? But...that's not okay. I'll talk to someone and-"
"That's not necessary." Horace said coldly. "He'll be seeing one in the morning."
Rapunzel grimaced at his tone and folded her arms protectively. "I'm sorry. I never tried to...I don't know what got into me. When I saw you talking to Varian, trying to reason with him, I panicked. I didn't try to hurt him."
"But you did." Horace said. He unfolded his arms and stepped away from the wall. He took Rapunzel's hand. "Can you let me show you something?"
"O-of course." Rapunzel said. Horace brought her away from the entrance to the dungeons and towards the kitchens, which were mercifully empty at this time of night. Horace lit a few lanterns, just to illuminate the room, before leading Rapunzel to a chair. He grabbed a thick carrot.
"Blondie, you know your hair is unbreakable now." Horace said. "But have you thought about just what that means?"
"What do you mean?" Rapunzel asked. That was what Horace was afraid of. He felt like he'd messed up again. They didn't really think of Rapunzel's hair as a weapon, but a big part of Horace's Brotherhood training was to learn that anything could be used as a weapon if someone was creative enough.
"Do you know what happens when you put something unbreakable against something that can break?" Horace asked. He took some strands of Rapunzel's hair and wrapped it tightly around the carrot. He gave Rapunzel a good look before he gave a tight yank on the two ends of the hair. The carrot was immediately sliced in half.
Rapunzel stared at the two pieces of carrot in stricken silence. She looked like she was going to be sick. Horace's expression softened and he sat next to Rapunzel. He took her hands, which were beginning to shake.
"Your hair has always been powerful." Horace said softly. "You mastered the healing magic, but when your hair came back and became unbreakable, you acted like it was the same as always, and it's just not. You should have taken the time to figure out just what your new hair meant." He sighed. "I should have taken the time to teach you."
Rapunzel gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Eugene, this wasn't your fault."
Horace shook his head. "Sunshine, all of this was my fault." He may not be the only one to blame, but after everything that had happened Horace had been in the middle of all of it. He was the common factor. If he hadn't left home, if he hadn't left Varian alone, if he hadn't tried to forget his home and ignored everything he'd learned, then none of this would have ever happened.
"Eugene, no." Rapunzel said sternly. "I can't speak for everything else, but Varian's broken wrist was my fault. Not yours, not his, mine. I'm the one that lost control."
"What happened?" Horace asked. "I've never seen you like that before."
Rapunzel bit her lip slightly. "I-I was scared. I didn't want to lose you in the first place, but when I heard what you were saying to Varian, I panicked." Rapunzel sighed and squeezed his hand tightly. "The words you were saying, it sounded exactly like what I said to Gothel when she...when I was asking if I could heal you."
Horace's eyes widened. He knew that Rapunzel tried really hard to pretend that she was unbothered by everything she'd been through, but Horace had seen how traumatized she was. There had been multiple times when she had come to him in tears because her parents had said or done something that reminded her just a bit too much of Gothel. The smallest similarity could make her feel terrified and overwhelmed, like she was back in that tower of hers.
Horace had tried so hard to not trigger Rapunzel, and yet he'd said something that caused the worst response yet. He'd hurt Rapunzel, making her slip into a fight or flight instinct, which had made her hurt Varian. Despite what Rapunzel said, Horace knew that this was his fault. Nobody else's.
He couldn't wallow in self-pity. He needed to get to work and make things better. He had thought that there wouldn't be much more he could do. He'd spoken to the king. He'd talked to Varian. There wasn't too much more that he could do to help free Varian that evening. However, how Horace had another problem that needed his attention, and he needed to figure out just how to fix it.
"Do you know if the royal library has books about myths and legends?" Horace asked. Rapunzel gave him an odd look.
"Yeah, it does." Rapunzel said. "Why?"
"Your mom mentioned that Varian was hearing a voice." Horace said. "I just talked to him, and I'm worried that the voice is more than just a voice in his own head. We have a legend in my kingdom about an ancient evil sorcerer. One of the jobs of the knights of my kingdom was to keep the sorcerer's power hidden from the world. I think Varian got too close to the trapped power, and the voice that he's hearing is the sorcerer."
Rapunzel brought a hand to her mouth in horror. "You think that Varian's being influenced by an evil sorcerer?"
"I really hope that's not the case." Horace said. "But I have to get ready for the worst case scenario. Any little bit of information about Zhan Tiri I can find would help a lot."
"I'll help." Rapunzel said. "I-I don't know if I forgive Varian for putting my mom in danger, but if he's been on his own for a year, and some evil voice has been talking to him, then I want to help him." Rapunzel sighed and brushed her hair back before she steeled her expression, a look of determination coming to her eyes. Horace knew this look well. Rapunzel was distressed, but putting her own unease to the side for someone else's sake.
"I know how it feels to be isolated and manipulated." Rapunzel said. "No matter how upset I am with someone, nobody deserves that kind of thing."
Horace gave Rapunzel a small smile. He had thought that he would lose her, as she might think it was too much of a betrayal that he had not only lied to her, but was also trying to help somebody that was now an enemy of Corona. And yet here Rapunzel was, offering to help Varian just out of the goodness of her heart.
This was why Horace loved her so much. Rapunzel was incredibly kind, more than she had any right to be, and Horace couldn't be more grateful.
They made their way out of the kitchen and towards the library. Rapunzel asked him about his home and family, and about Varian. It was nice to be able to talk about them. Horace told her about the Brotherhood, and the times that Varian had helped get him out of trouble with his dad. He explained the significance of his fur cape and satchel.
He still hadn't told Rapunzel about the moonstone and the connection their two kingdoms probably had, but that was a conversation that Horace wanted to give his full attention to. It wasn't a conversation to be held casually as they were on their way to investigate an ancient sorcerer.
Rapunzel was fascinated with everything that Horace said, but she seemed horrified when he mentioned that the Dark Kingdom was dark and cloudy all the time, and barely got even a glimpse of the sun growing up.
"No wonder you wanted to leave." Rapunzel wrapped her arms with herself and gave a small shudder. "I can't imagine living somewhere so gloomy."
"It was kinda depressing." Horace said. "But you should just see the night skies in the Dark Kingdom. The stars shine so brightly, and it's so clear. Trust me, the most beautiful nights in Corona are nothing compared to the average night in the Dark Kingdom. The sky just seems to light up, and that's to say nothing of the Aurora Borealis."
Rapunzel's face lit up. "You can see the Aurora Borealis from your home? I've only read about it. I've always wanted to see it."
"We have to travel a little bit to see it, but the trip is definitely worth taking." Horace said. "I would love to show you someday."
Rapunzel smiled and looked excited. Horace just knew that she had an idea. "What if I come with you when you take Varian back to the Dark Kingdom? That way we don't have to say goodbye, and I can see your home and get to know your family."
Horace was excited at the thought, but also cautious. He would love to show Rapunzel his home, especially if it was something that she really wanted to do as well. This wasn't the kind of thing they should just jump into though.
"I really don't think your dad would go for it." Horace said. "There's no way he would trust you anywhere near Varian."
"You said we could have a guard accompany you." Rapunzel said. "Couldn't that guard keep me safe too?"
"Blondie, I know you'll be completely safe." Horace said. He would see to it himself that if Rapunzel came with them that she and Varian wouldn't hurt each other, whether it be accidental, purposeful, physical, or emotional. "But your dad will barely let you leave the castle, let alone the kingdom. Forget about going halfway across the world."
"My dad's just protective." Rapunzel said. "I understand why, and I've humored him, but I can't stay here like a bird in a cage for my whole life. I love my parents, and I love Corona, but I need to get out and see the world, find who I am outside of a princess."
The sentiment sounded very familiar to Horace. Too familiar. "Sunshine, I know where you're coming from. You know I understand, but think this through. It'll take several months to travel to the Dark Kingdom, and just as long to get back. This is a massive commitment. Take it from me, being away from home for that long hurts."
"I'm not expecting it to be easy." Rapunzel said. "But I have to grow up eventually. Besides, this could be good for the kingdom."
Horace gave her an odd look. "Exactly how would it be good for Corona for them to go another year without knowing where their heir is?"
"I'll be making alliances." Rapunzel said confidently. She had planned this all out, and Horace had no idea when she had done that. "I know Corona already has alliances, but I don't know them at all. When I rule Corona, I want to have allies that I know and trust, not just people that I call my ally because of tradition."
Rapunzel gave Horace a quick kiss on the cheek. "Besides, you know that I want to have a future with you, and if that means joining out two kingdoms then I should probably see your kingdom for myself, shouldn't I?"
Horace stared at Rapunzel in stunned shock. "Joining our kingdoms? You...you'd still want to be with me?"
"Always." Rapunzel said. "Maybe things are more complicated than they were yesterday, but I want to work through it. I want to be at your side."
Horace didn't know how well this plan was going to work out, but he desperately wanted it. He wanted to show Rapunzel his home. He wanted to share his life with her, and if she was willing to compromise and find a middle ground with him, his family, and his kingdom, then he wanted to do the same thing.
"We don't have to make any big decisions now." Rapunzel said. "I know this kind of thing needs time to think about. We can talk about it more later. Right now, we were going to look for something about that sorcerer to help Varian, right?"
"Right." Horace said. He and Rapunzel got to work. They went to the section of the royal library dedicated to myths and fantastical stories. Rapunzel grabbed books that she thought had potential, and Horace started looking for any mention he could find about Zhan Tiri.
They researched for more than an hour and they were able to find both more and less than what Horace had hoped for.
Apparently Zhan Tiri had once terrorized Corona, back before his power had been sealed by Demanitus. Horace supposed it made sense. Zhan Tiri had been after the power of the moonstone, it only made sense that he would be after the power of the sundrop as well
There were actually a few small myths about Zhan Tiri trying to destroy Corona, whether with magic or by harnessing the powers of nature, but there was no mention of Zhan Tiri's defeat or sealing, let alone how they could stop him now. It seemed that Corona's legends were just about what had happened in Corona itself, so Zhan Tiri's influence and defeat near the Great Tree was ignored.
It was nice to know just a little more about what Zhan Tiri had done and was capable of. And Rapunzel was now more understanding of Varian's struggle. She was now convinced that Varian had targeted the queen because Zhan Tiri still had hatred of Corona and had been trying to use Varian to destroy the kingdom.
Horace didn't know if that was the case or not. He would have to talk to Varian more to know the truth. However, he wasn't going to complain about Rapunzel being more sympathetic to Varian.
They would have studied for even longer, but Horace stopped when he heard an odd sound. He brought a finger to his lips and held a hand up to Rapunzel to keep her quiet. She hadn't heard what he had, but she instantly went silent. Rapunzel knew that when Horace was serious about something, then it wasn't something to take lightly.
The two of them listened quietly for a long moment before the sound came again. Horace gestured for Rapunzel to stay where she was while he went to investigate. He pulled out his black rock dagger and quietly crept towards where he had heard the sound come from. He knew it probably wasn't a threat, but one couldn't be too careful.
Horace had just rounded a corner of the bookcases when he heard Rapunzel gasp.
"Eugene, look out." Rapunzel called out. He had started to spin around before she had even finished calling out a warning. He swung his dagger, only for it to be knocked out of his hand. Horace was kicked to the ground, knocking his head painfully against the bookcase. Horace's sight went dark for a moment as he was stunned.
Horace groaned and blinked rapidly, trying to get his vision to focus again. When his sight came back the first thing he saw was a black rock weapon just inches away from his face. A weapon that was much larger than his own dagger.
"You're much more trouble than you're worth." A very familiar voice said. Horace was almost more stunned to hear it than he'd been when he hit his head. The black rock sword was withdrawn, only to be replaced by a hand offered out to help him up. "You have no idea how much trouble you're in, your highness."
Horace could do nothing but stare up at the face of someone that he hadn't seen in over a year. They were one of the last people he had thought to see in Corona, so far from The Dark Kingdom. He was surprised to see them, but also incredibly relieved.
"Adira?"